The Constitution’s framers battled over the structure of the U.S. Senate and how its members would be chosen
Read moreThe centuries-old question of Rights on Virginia’s ballot
Adam Jennison, 13, of NW DC, middle, and Madeleine Joseph, 13, of Northwest Washington, take their first peek at the actual Bill of Rights document at the National Archives. File Photo/Alamy
Two November ballot issues for Virginia voters have deep roots in human rights
Read moreVirginia’s endless war - Voting rights
A restoration of rights form that Richard Walker used to check a former convict’s voting rights status during a fish fry in Richmond. File Photo by Cianna Morales/WHRO
A constitutional amendment on November’s ballot could enshrine the right to vote for ex-felons. It’s the latest chapter in the Commonwealth’s centuries-old fight over a foundational question.
Read moreGuns, militias and a long-running Virginia debate
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team march to their posts near the U.S Capitol building Jan. 17, 2021, in Washington, D.C. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women conduct security, communication and logistical missions leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Lucretia Cunningham)
The Founders argued over the state’s authority to control armed forces. It remains a flashpoint.
Read moreThe unending compromise of the Electoral College
Voters fill out their ballots at the early voting location at the Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center on October 21, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia., DC. Photo bySamuel Corum/Sipa USA
The Founders deadlocked over how a President should be elected. Virginia’s leaders feared a popular vote.
Read moreVirginia’s redistricting failure – a symptom of a larger problem?
Political signs offer opposing views on redistricting ahead of the April 21 Virginia referendum. Source // Wikimedia Commons
George Washington believed the House of Representatives should be close to the people. The Founders failed to anticipate a century of Congressional stagnation with a fast-growing population.
Read moreThe unchecked President and the Virginian debate
U.S. President Donald Trump signs executive orders during an indoor inauguration parade at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Sipa USA
A strong executive worried the nation’s Founders. Centuries later, the debate continues.
Read moreThree Words and a Quiet Revolution
Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump hold a "We the People" banner, a Three Percenters flag and a 13-star Betsy Ross U.S. flag, gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S. January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith
A simple change to the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution drew little debate from the Founders. Its ambiguity continues to be seized and fought over.
Read moreOur Unfinished Union
Photo Illustration by Christopher Tyree // VCIJ
The mission of this series is to give readers insights into how the Founding Fathers debated and addressed the issues we still contest today.
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